Monday, April 22, 2013

I finished making my navy and gold bag last weekend. Not as timely as I was originally planning, but I took it with me to the conference closing day, so that's good enough. I didn't follow a pattern for this bag - I kind of made it up as I went a long. As a result it's got flaws character, but overall, I'm pleased with the result. I basically pieced the fabric rectangles into 2 15" 18" sides and then quilted them using a layer of Pellon's Peltex Ultra Firm that I got at JoAnn's and a layer of cotton/poly batting. From there I used a basic tote concept to square the bottoms with gussets and add the straps.

Windham farbrics recently sent me a sample pack of the canvas prints from Lotta Jansdotters' newest collection called Glimma. I used some of the same pieces in the bag exterior. I asked them if I could use the gorgeous gold stripe canvas for my bag and they kindly sent me some yardage. I love the way the canvas gives extra body and durability to the lining and the bag straps. The pocket fabric is some of Lori Holt's Aunt Millie's Closet yardage that I'd bought a while back. You can find the Glimma collection here, here, and here.

I'm so in love with the navy and gold color scheme that is popular right now. I've always been a fan of navy blue - maybe becuase I was raised on navy blue - so I love seeing it make a comeback.

Seeing as I'm NOT a great resource for bag-making (maybe some day!) let me point you in the direction of someone who is. Have you met Sara Lawson? I took a class from her last fall at the Sewing Summit about making bags. (Don't you love that patchwork bag she made?) She gave us samples of all kind of Pellon products (interfacing, etc.) and explained how she uses them. I took notes right on the samples. It was SO helpful!

She also has some fantastic bag patterns in her shop and she has generously offered to giveaway 3 patterns to 3 lucky winners! If you would like to win a collection of Sara's patterns, just leave a comment on this post. If you want, pop over to Sara's shop and come back and tell me which bag is your favorite. I warn you, it will be hard to choose! Giveaway open until Thursday, April 25 at midnight MST. GIVEAWAY CLOSED

221 comments:

Locked and Loaded. Thanks! P.S. I have actually pulled up her blog while standing in front of the interfacing at JoAnn. So helpful!! P.P.S. Your bag is awesome. I think we're about the same age, and I have been waiting for navy's comeback too. I love dark blues.

I love bags, using bags, designing bags, making bags, everything about bags! You were right, it was hard to decide which of Sara's patterns I like best, but I'm going to go with Velocity Girl with Locked and Loaded coming in a close second! Ooooh, I would love to win this giveaway! Thanks for the chance!

I love navy too - although I'm sort of conditioned not to pair it with gold because, around here, then all anyone thinks about is that you must be a University of Michigan fan. It isn't that I dislike UM in any way, but I'm not enough of a sports fan to wear a teams colors all the time :) I'll be pairing my navy with a nice spring green.

I love this bag!!! The colors together are gorgeous!! I would love to try either the Petrillo Bag or the Aeroplane Bag. I think something girly is just what is needed in my all male (besides me) household!! At least that way I'd know where to find it when I want it. : )

Sara Lawson's bags are gorgeous, I loved the accordion bag the best. I really enjoy following your blog and think your navy and gold bag is just great. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity. Kind Regards Mandy Currie (mandycurrie@googlemail.com)

Love the simplicity of your pattern and how the quilting enhances the fabrics. I like Sara's Paparazzi bag. I have a 241 tote on the go and I bought the Craftsy class on making handbags but I haven't watched it yet.

OOH - tough choices indeed! I think I would love to make the Locked and Loaded Bag. I LOVE making bags for myself and others. I usually make myself a new bag/pattern for my birthday (which is next week... I better get sewing soon!) Thanks for the opportunity - I will have to check out her site about different interfacings to use. I have found that over the years they have changed, and some that I loved (fusible fleece, for example)are not as sturdy as they once were.

Thanks for the giveaway! I love your bag! I also love Sara's patterns so much that I just bought Aeroplane pattern. I think the next pattern I would go for is Soda Pop. wonderlandbyalyce at gmail dot com

I think my favorite is Dot Dot Dash. I've been looking for a bag pattern that has a slim, tall shape with a zip closure. I agree about Navy Blue, this is a classic color that should never go out of style.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Sara and her bags. Her tutorials are brilliant. I have a couple of her patterns and they are so well written and easy to follow. I would love her aeroplane bag pattern. I love your bag, especially the fabrics you have used. It looks great!

Oh my gosh what good timing! I was just shopping with a new friend who let it be known how much she likes fabric bags and said she'd like to make one with me! I don't know which pattern she will pick, but I'm leaning toward the Aeroplane Bags - I like the idea of making my own weekend bag! I'd learn a lot by making the useful camera bag, and the Petrillo Bag would be a handy all in one way to carry my iPad... I really can't choose. Thank you for putting my name in the hat for the drawing.

Love your bag. Beautiful colours and the quilting makes it just perfect.I tested the Dot Dot Dash bag for Sara and loved it. You're right it's hard to pick one but if I have to then I choose Locked and Loaded.

Your bag is wonderful. I agree, the combination of navy blue and gold is always very classic and stiking. You are so right - hard to choose just one bag from their fabulous collection, but I would have to go with the Aeroplane bags.

I love how your bag turned out. Love the colours. My 3 Fav Bags are: Paparazzi Bag,soda Pop Bag, and Locked and Loaded Bag. I couldn't pick just one :-). I made a bag for my cousin in Texas (I'm from Ontario, Canada) and she said she has gotten ssoooo many compliments on it. Handmade certainly is the best :-)

I took a peak at Sara's shop and fell in love with the Locked and Loaded bag. There is just something about the shape of the bag that really appeals to me. Thanks for directing us to her site. I am a novice at bag making and look forward to her wise words about bag interfacing and etc.

I love how your bag turned out! I have been eyeing the Glimma fabric for a little while and was thinking about ordering some. I just checked out Sew Sweetness and I think my fav bag is the camera paparazzi bag! Thanks for this opportunity!

For myself, I want..... no, I NEED to make a Velocity bag for myself. O. M. G. compartments!!!!!!!! Buuuuuuut........ I think if I made many Sunrise Clutch bags they would make beautiful gifts for friends and family. That would be really fun to try as well. Thanks for sharing such a great resource for fun bag patterns.~robinwelchrobin@Hotmail.com

I really like her new pattern, the Soda Pop Bag. And I'm like you about navy, it's one of my favorites despite having to wear it as part of my high school uniform for four years (navy blue bottoms w/wo navy sweaters and white blouses). Thanks for the give away!

This is such a timely post because I have been looking at bag patterns for some great pre-quilted fabric I have bought recently. You're right about the tough decision, but I think the Aeroplane Bag and the Paparazzi Bags are the best fits for my current wishes.krseitz at earthlink dot net

I just bought the Aeroplane bag and I love all her patterns. I would choose the soda pop, paparazzi and locked and loaded. Thanks for the chance to win it. By the way, I love your navy and gold combination! Great bag!

How does one choose their favorite between all those wonderful bags. Tough decisions, but since I must choose one, I think the Dot Dash Bag is pretty cool with the three zippers down the front. Too cute! Khauglan (at) yahoo dot com

Wow, your bag looks fantastic, Amy! I love the Glimma collection. And it does work really well with the navy you threw in there. I love bags, and making them also. Sadly, I never seem to keep them for myself! I don't think it was fair of you to ask us to choose just ONE of Sara's bags to like. They are all so deliciously good! But if I have to choose I think I might have to go with the Locked and Loaded bag. Very trendy!

Ok you were right it is hard to decide on one of the bags. Actually there were five I like best, well I like all of them but five really grabbed my eye's at first glance. The Accordion, Paper-Pieced Sunrise Clutch, Soda Pop, Locked & Loaded & the Paparazzi (camera)Bags. Today is the first time I've been on your site & I'm really enjoying it & look forward to getting to know you better through your blog. By the way your bag is very pretty. I love Navy Blue also. I do have a few questions for you. I have been wanting to start a blog of my own but I have Crohn's Disease & I never know how I'm going to feel. So my questions to you is do you have to write in it a certain day's of the week? And where do you get all of your ideas from? Like your tutorials do you make up all of your own patterns or how do you know what to write about? Plus where do you find time to read everyone's posts or answer their questions? Do you wish you had more free time to yourself & your family? I'm sure that I sound silly asking you all of these questions but I have always been the type to ask & I figure if it's to silly then it wont be answered. Thanks for your help, I truly appreciate your time.

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